Hi Guys:

Well I went to Cabelas tonight to take a look at the Chapuis 470 NE. And wouldn't you know the damn "Frenchy" followed me home.

I was standing there examining the double, when this guy came up behind me and said, hey dude are you going to buy Frenchy? if not just leave her on the table and I will take her home.

I was thinking about Rays "Sweet Thang" and Rustys "Lucille" and looked at this French Stick and said oh what the hell, ya wanna go home with me "Frenchy"? Damn it if she didn't say yes.

Well I handled 5 differnt Merkels, 3 Kreighoffs, 1 Searcy and 1 Chapuis. I couldn't find a Heym to hold if my life depended on it. It was a toss up between the Merkel and Chapuis. I found out I needed a 14.5 in LOP for a correct fit and wanted at least a 10 to 10.5 lb rifle for the 470 NE or 500 NE. In the end I went with the 470 NE.

Well on Frenchy the wood is beautiful, the engraving is all scroll, long tang, and ejectors. Only thing I don't like is that funky orangey colored recoil pad...LOL

One of the things I noticed, The Chapuis like the Searcy has a massive amount of metal around the breech. The Merkel & Kreighoff have substantially less steel areound those big bore holes. They seem smaller in those bigger calibers. The Kreighoff looks like a 410 when you pop it open. I don't know a hill of beans when it comes to strenght of DR's but this was just an observation.

I want to thank everybody on this forum for all the advice and help they gave me in helping make my decision. Hell 577NE was even going to have a DR shoot just so I could try the double rifles out. Thanks for the many private emails and ansering all my questions on this forum. AR has ALWAYS been my Bible when I need answers from the people in the know.

I also had to buy a new press for these longer shells, my old Rock Chucker wasn't going to cut it.

Thanks again guys.... Hey is there another Double Rifle Pig hunt in Ohio this year? If so count me and Frechy in.

Now I need dies brass and bullets.

Regards... Jim P.

Congrats!!!

Photos? Please!

JPK

PAHunter

Congratulations.

I recommend you contact Hawk bullets www.hawkbullets.com and order some 350gr .032 jkt bullets.

Load them over a starting load of 75gr of IMR 3031. WARNING YOU MUST USE FILLER either dacron or foam.
These loads should be around 2300fps.

Adjust the powder charge up or down if necessary to achieve regulation.

This is a great deer,wild pig, black bear over bait, practice load that has a "little" less recoil than the regular load.

You can also try this same load with the Hornady 400gr bullets made for the 480 Ruger/475 Linebaugh.

For an even lighter load get some cast bullets @400grains and load them over a starting load of 44gr of IMR 4198. again you MUST use filler.
These loads should be around 1700 to 1800fps.

What press did you buy. I am in the same place with not having a press with enough gate to handle the large shells of the .470 NE. I am thinking of getting the Redding called the Ultramag. Is that the one you got? Thanks in advance. Welcome to the .470 NE club.

I am in the same boat...just purchased the Kreighoff 470 Nitro Express and own a Rock Chucker. Looking for any information on best press to buy and best dies for these bullets.

Some posts indicate Lee may not have quality dies and are the "Lock-N-Load" type dies worth the extra money?

Thanks for any help.

Congratulations and welcome to the DRSS. HOpe you enjoy your new rifle!

As far as presses I have a Lee Classic that I load my 450/400 3 inch on. I have also loaded 475#2 Jeffery on the press. I have almost 4 inches space between the shell holder and the end of the die. Price is right too at MidwayUSA.com

Good luck with her! You never buy just one.
I also am very please with my big old and cheap lee press. ( You need to start saveing for that next double)

JD

Hello and welcome,

I bought a rock chucker supreme, it is long enough for the 3 1/4" cases. If any of you use the RCBS protrim trimmer and want instructions on how to modify it to trim your 470 brass send me a PM and I will respond. Pictures please, don't be stingy share that lovely frenchy's curves with all of us. I am ditto on the pig hunt in Ohio, let me know when and where. I just posted that Jamison Int. just ran 470 brass they sent me there latest price sheet, it lists 470 at $ 2.12 each. Midway has bullets of all types, including some in the clearance section, A2 dead tough and lion loads I believe.


Regards

Great choice for your first double, the Chapuis should give you years of trouble free hunting pleasure. Now you can start searching for a nice 7x57R double to fill in the gap. Welcome aboard!

my coax works fine with 470s. a bit of fooling around seating, but surely not enough to warrant anything else. and you can only join the drss if you have two triggers

Congrats on the new double. I think you will enjoy shooting the 470NE and appreciate its performance on game. Welcome to the club! As for reloading components, I think you will do fine with the RCBS ammo Master or the large press Redding makes. I have both and prefer the Redding as it seems to have a little more leverage. As for dies, I have RCBS however Redding makes a set for the 470NE and it is much cheaper than the RCBS set. I would give them a try. As for case trimming, I prefer to use the trim dies for these large cases. Trim dies are somewhat expensive however they will last forever and are very quick and easy to use. There are lots of things you can incorporate into the loading process for the double. This forum has many experienced folks to help you through the process. Have fun.

With a very SMALL modification of the shell holder the Rockchucker works fine on the 470.

Congratulations from me, too (JimP was considering my 470). Hope you get a chance to try it on ele or buff soon. Have you read the sage advice in this forum about avoiding monometal solids (excluding GS and NF)? I believe I am correct to say that A Square solids and Barnes-banded solids are usually regarded as potentially very problematic for the Chapuis. Good luck with your new rifle.

Congrats on a good choice. The Lee Classic Cast press works well for me.

Hi Guys:

Thank you very much. I will try and take some pics this weekend.

Rojovin: Nope I went with the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme, it has a 4.5 inch window. I had my other Rockchucker for over 30 years, is still going strong.

JD: Another DR I would surely be divorced...LOL hey ya never know.

SGraves155: Thanks Steve I appreciate it.

Regards... Jim P.

Hi Guys:

Well I posted pics under a new thread call "The French Connection" you can check out this French whore that finally got my money.

My lever is very stiff and hard to open, no I mean the one on the Chapuis Will this loosen up, or should I have it adjusted. The lock up seems very tight and close fit.

Regards... Jim P.

The lever should loosen up after you have shot it some. That is normal in a new double.

Would this also mean that if you purchase one of the new (gasp) Remington SPR 22 double–rifles in (double gasp) 45-70 we can join the DRSS?

PAhunter,

I so remeber my first double and the joy it brought me to finally own one. IT is a great feeling!
Congratulations on your awesome new double. And enjoy every spine tingling minute as you spend time getting acquainted with your new mistress.

Jim,
Congratulations on the "New" mistress! I find the 470NE a pure pleasure to shoot! You will not be disappointed! Enjoy, and welcome to the DRSS!

Surestrike and Doc:

Thanks for the congrats, I always wanted a DR.

Now Doc, if you and your son can get it together, how about another DR piggy hunt for us Northeasterners again.

In PA we have Tioga Game Preserve that has a bunch if Piggys. Or we can do where you guys went last year. Hell we can even do Pigs with Pistols, 44 mag or better. I have a 4in. 500 S&W that I can take a piggy with.

Better yet... DR's and Pistols, ya must carry both. Nothing better than Big Bore Rifles and Pistols...

I think I am loosing my mind...

Jim P.

PAHunter

Big Bore Doubles and Pistols....

Yep, you will fit in with the DRSS just fine.